WHAT IS AN INTEGRATED DESIGN PROCESS? The information in this presentation is taken directly from the following source: BC Green Building Roundtable Roadmap for the Integrated Design Process. Downloadable pdf at

What is IDP? an approach that seeks to achieve high performance on a wide variety of well-defined environmental and social goals, while staying within budgetary and/or scheduling constraints relies upon a multidisciplinary and collaborative team, whose members make decisions together based on a shared vision and a holistic understanding of the project follows the design through the entire project life

What is IDP? What is it NOT? a flexible method—not a formula an emergent process—not pre-determined an iterative process—not linear or silo-based a process that favors ongoing learning and emergent features—not a preordained sequence of events

IDP vs. Conventional Design

IDP as a Mindset

having the right mindset without the process is unlikely to lead to success following the process without the right mindset is almost certain to fail

IDP as a Set of Principles

BROAD COLLABORATIVE TEAM includes all relevant disciplines and stakeholders, who remain involved from start to finish a broad and interdisciplinary team represents all necessary skills, knowledge, and perspectives, i.e., all relevant knowledge and resources are brought to the table mindset: inclusiveness and collaboration pre-requisite: members must be willing and able to work in collaboration

IDP as a Set of Principles WELL-DEFINED SCOPE, VISION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES question underlying assumptions surrounding the scope of the project failing to ask these sometimes difficult questions early can suppress the synergies hoped or from interdisciplinary teamwork mindset: outcome oriented pre-requisites: the team must develop a shared vision of what they are trying to achieve; in other words, you have to know where you’re going in order to plan how to get there time should be invested at the start of the project to host a Visioning Charrette or Workshop, in order to develop a clear vision accompanied by well-defined goals and objectives

IDP as a Set of Principles EFFECTIVE AND OPEN COMMUNICATION open and continuous lines of communication are essential throughout the process, both during and between meetings creates a greater sense of ownership over the process, reducing conflicts and allowing the project to benefit from each individual’s unique contribution key decisions should not be made without team input mindset: turst and transparency prerequisite: an expert facilitator involved at the beginning of the project can set the stage for effective communication throughout the design process by instilling effective communication skills within the group and fostering an atmosphere of lasting respect and trust

INNOVATION AND SYNTHESIS synthesis is, by definition, the integration of separate elements to create a cohesive whole, and the term implies that the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts mindset: open-mindedness and creativity pre-requisite: a design charrette can be used to foster an environment conducive to brainstorming, creating, and imagining exercises IDP as a Set of Principles

SYSTEMATIC DECISION-MAKING “It is important for each individual to understand his/her own roles and responsibilities and how decision-making will occur.” (National Charrette Institute (NCI) 2004). mindset: rigor and attention to detail prerequisite: use of tools that can facilitate effective decision- makin. IDP as a Set of Principles

ITERATIVE PROCESS WITH FEEDBACK LOOPS ensures that decisions reflect the broader team’s collective knowledge, that interactions between different elements are considered, and that solutions go through the steps needed for optimization regular feedback loops can keep the team engaged and produce small successes, which reinforce the effectiveness of the process mindset: continuous learning and improvement IDP as a Set of Principles

Iterative Process

Summary of Benefits